Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas
TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
Division: Junior welterweight (140 pounds)
At stake: Lopez’s WBO title
Weights: Lopez and Ortiz, 139.6
Pound-for-pound: Lopez, Honorable Mention
Odds: Lopez 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ****
Also on the card: Keyshawn Davis vs. Jose Pedraza, lightweights
Background: Lopez reclaimed his place among the best in the business on June 10, when he defeated previously unbeaten Josh Taylor by a convincing decision to regain a share of the140-pound championship. The 26-year-old native of Brooklyn had lost his 135-pound belts in a stunning upset against George Kambosos Jr. in 2021, although it was later determined that Lopez fought with a dangerous health condition. He rebounded to stop Pedro Campa, narrowly outpoint Sandor Martin and take down Taylor. The last victory lifted him back onto the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list. Ortiz will be fighting for a major title for the first time. The resident of Worcester, Massachusetts made a splash when he outpointed former 130-pound titleholder Jamel Herring in May 2022 but came up short in his next fight five months later, a unanimous decision against Vasiliy Lomachenko. The Ukrainian star deserved the nod but Ortiz gave a solid performance, bolstering his reputation. He easily outpointed Antonio Moran in September, his most recent fight. He’s ranked No. 10 by the WBO.
Teofimo Lopez, “26 years young”, insists that he’s only getting started as he prepares to face Jamaine Ortiz on Thursday in Las Vegas.
Teofimo Lopez has packed a lot of ups and downs into his last five fights.
Up: The 140-pound titleholder stunned the boxing world when he outpointed pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko to become the 135-pound champion and an overnight star at 23 years old in October 2020.
Down: He lost his titles by decision to George Kambosos Jr. in his first defense 13 months later, although we later learned he fought with a dangerous health condition.
Up: He bounced back to stop Pedro Campa in his first fight at 140 in August 2022.
Down: He struggled against clever, but limited Sandor Martin in his next fight that December, rising from a knockdown to win an unconvincing split decision.
Up: He gave a performance that rivaled his victory over Lomachenko, taking down previously unbeaten Josh Taylor by a unanimous decision to become a 140-pound titleholder and reestablish himself as a major force in the sport.
Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) said the rollercoaster ride has allowed him to grow as a fighter as he prepares to defend his belt against Jamaine Ortiz on Thursday in Las Vegas (ESPN, ESPN+).
“I’ve been to the top before at 135, beating the most decorated fighter at the time (Lomachenko),” he said at the final news conference before the fight. “Nobody wanted to face him. Now we’re back again. I beat the guy nobody wanted to fight again (Taylor).
“So, I’ve looked it as I’ve gained it, lost it, and I’ve gained it back again. I know what it takes to be great, which means to respect the ring and respect what it means to be a champion.”
And Lopez will remind you that he’s only 26.
That means he has many big fights in his future, assuming he doesn’t endure too many more “downs.”
He would like to unify titles at 140, a plan that could include a showdown with fellow pound-for-pounder Devin Haney. And he has called out 147-pound champion and current pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford, which could be his ultimate challenge.
He acknowledges Crawford’s sublime ability but points out that “Bud” is 36, an age when mortal fighters typically are beyond their peak ability. That, he believes, makes that fight winnable.
In effect, by calling out the best in the business, he’s putting all the top fighters in and around his weight on notice. He’s convinced that his impressive victories over Lomachenko and Taylor are only a prelude to greater accomplishments.
“This is only the beginning for me,” he said. “I’m 26 years young. I’m not even in my prime yet.”
Teofimo Lopez, “26 years young”, insists that he’s only getting started as he prepares to face Jamaine Ortiz on Thursday in Las Vegas.
Teofimo Lopez has packed a lot of ups and downs into his last five fights.
Up: The 140-pound titleholder stunned the boxing world when he outpointed pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko to become the 135-pound champion and an overnight star at 23 years old in October 2020.
Down: He lost his titles by decision to George Kambosos Jr. in his first defense 13 months later, although we later learned he fought with a dangerous health condition.
Up: He bounced back to stop Pedro Campa in his first fight at 140 in August 2022.
Down: He struggled against clever, but limited Sandor Martin in his next fight that December, rising from a knockdown to win an unconvincing split decision.
Up: He gave a performance that rivaled his victory over Lomachenko, taking down previously unbeaten Josh Taylor by a unanimous decision to become a 140-pound titleholder and reestablish himself as a major force in the sport.
Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) said the rollercoaster ride has allowed him to grow as a fighter as he prepares to defend his belt against Jamaine Ortiz on Thursday in Las Vegas (ESPN, ESPN+).
“I’ve been to the top before at 135, beating the most decorated fighter at the time (Lomachenko),” he said at the final news conference before the fight. “Nobody wanted to face him. Now we’re back again. I beat the guy nobody wanted to fight again (Taylor).
“So, I’ve looked it as I’ve gained it, lost it, and I’ve gained it back again. I know what it takes to be great, which means to respect the ring and respect what it means to be a champion.”
And Lopez will remind you that he’s only 26.
That means he has many big fights in his future, assuming he doesn’t endure too many more “downs.”
He would like to unify titles at 140, a plan that could include a showdown with fellow pound-for-pounder Devin Haney. And he has called out 147-pound champion and current pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford, which could be his ultimate challenge.
He acknowledges Crawford’s sublime ability but points out that “Bud” is 36, an age when mortal fighters typically are beyond their peak ability. That, he believes, makes that fight winnable.
In effect, by calling out the best in the business, he’s putting all the top fighters in and around his weight on notice. He’s convinced that his impressive victories over Lomachenko and Taylor are only a prelude to greater accomplishments.
“This is only the beginning for me,” he said. “I’m 26 years young. I’m not even in my prime yet.”
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas
TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
Division: Junior welterweight (140 pounds)
At stake: Lopez’s WBO title
Pound-for-pound: Lopez, Honorable Mention
Odds: Lopez 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ****
Also on the card: Keyshawn Davis vs. Jose Pedraza, lightweights
Background: Lopez reclaimed his place among the best in the business on June 10, when he defeated previously unbeaten Josh Taylor by a convincing decision to regain a share of the140-pound championship. The 26-year-old native of Brooklyn had lost his 135-pound belts in a stunning upset against George Kambosos Jr. in 2021, although it was later determined that Lopez fought with a dangerous health condition. He rebounded to stop Pedro Campa, narrowly outpoint Sandor Martin and take down Taylor. The last victory lifted him back onto the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list. Ortiz will be fighting for a major title for the first time. The resident of Worcester, Massachusetts made a splash when he outpointed former 130-pound titleholder Jamel Herring in May 2022 but came up short in his next fight five months later, a unanimous decision against Vasiliy Lomachenko. The Ukrainian star deserved the nod but Ortiz gave a solid performance, bolstering his reputation. He easily outpointed Antonio Moran in September, his most recent fight. He’s ranked No. 10 by the WBO.
HAMZAH SHEERAZ (18-0, 14 KOs)
VS. LIAM WILLIAMS (25-4-1, 20 KOS)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 10
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Copper Box Arena, London
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Sheeraz 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ***
Also on the card: Sam Noakes vs. Lewis Sylvester, lightweights; Anthony Yarde vs. Marko Nikolic, light heavyweights; Masood Abdulah vs. Qais Ashfaq, featherweights
Background: Sheeraz has dominated marginal opponents, including knockouts in his last 12 fights. Now comes what could be a genuine test in the form of veteran Liam Williams. Sheeraz is a 6-foot-3 middleweight contender from England with both boxing ability and formidable punching power, as his KO record suggests. The 24-year-old last fought on Aug. 26, when he stopped previously unbeaten Dmytro Mytrofanov in two rounds in Poland. None of his last four opponents has lasted five full rounds with him. Williams, 31, also is a rugged, hard-punching contender. The Welshman bounced back from back-to-back losses to Liam Smith to earn a shot at then-middleweight champ Demetrius Andrade’s title in 2021 but came up short in his only title fight, losing a one-sided decision. He then lost a clear decision to Chris Eubank Jr., which threatened his career as an elite fighter. However, he subsequently defeated journeymen Nizar Trimech and Florin Cardos to earn at least one more big fight.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
SATURDAY
Liam Dillon vs. Reece Bellotti, junior lightweights, Newcastle, England (DAZN)
Austin Brooks vs. Julio Carrera, junior lightweights, Long Beach, California (Fox Deportes, Fubo TV)
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas
TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
Division: Junior welterweight (140 pounds)
At stake: Lopez’s WBO title
Pound-for-pound: Lopez, Honorable Mention
Odds: Lopez 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ****
Also on the card: Keyshawn Davis vs. Jose Pedraza, lightweights
Background: Lopez reclaimed his place among the best in the business on June 10, when he defeated previously unbeaten Josh Taylor by a convincing decision to regain a share of the140-pound championship. The 26-year-old native of Brooklyn had lost his 135-pound belts in a stunning upset against George Kambosos Jr. in 2021, although it was later determined that Lopez fought with a dangerous health condition. He rebounded to stop Pedro Campa, narrowly outpoint Sandor Martin and take down Taylor. The last victory lifted him back onto the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list. Ortiz will be fighting for a major title for the first time. The resident of Worcester, Massachusetts made a splash when he outpointed former 130-pound titleholder Jamel Herring in May 2022 but came up short in his next fight five months later, a unanimous decision against Vasiliy Lomachenko. The Ukrainian star deserved the nod but Ortiz gave a solid performance, bolstering his reputation. He easily outpointed Antonio Moran in September, his most recent fight. He’s ranked No. 10 by the WBO.
HAMZAH SHEERAZ (18-0, 14 KOs)
VS. LIAM WILLIAMS (25-4-1, 20 KOS)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 10
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Copper Box Arena, London
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound: None
Odds: Sheeraz 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ***
Also on the card: Sam Noakes vs. Lewis Sylvester, lightweights; Anthony Yarde vs. Marko Nikolic, light heavyweights; Masood Abdulah vs. Qais Ashfaq, featherweights
Background: Sheeraz has dominated marginal opponents, including knockouts in his last 12 fights. Now comes what could be a genuine test in the form of veteran Liam Williams. Sheeraz is a 6-foot-3 middleweight contender from England with both boxing ability and formidable punching power, as his KO record suggests. The 24-year-old last fought on Aug. 26, when he stopped previously unbeaten Dmytro Mytrofanov in two rounds in Poland. None of his last four opponents has lasted five full rounds with him. Williams, 31, also is a rugged, hard-punching contender. The Welshman bounced back from back-to-back losses to Liam Smith to earn a shot at then-middleweight champ Demetrius Andrade’s title in 2021 but came up short in his only title fight, losing a one-sided decision. He then lost a clear decision to Chris Eubank Jr., which threatened his career as an elite fighter. However, he subsequently defeated journeymen Nizar Trimech and Florin Cardos to earn at least one more big fight.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
SATURDAY
Liam Dillon vs. Reece Bellotti, junior lightweights, Newcastle, England (DAZN)
Austin Brooks vs. Julio Carrera, junior lightweights, Long Beach, California (Fox Deportes, Fubo TV)
Good, bad, worse: Saturday was a big night for Vasiliy Lomachenko, Jake Paul and William Zepeda.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Lightweight contender Vasiliy Lomachenko seemed to acknowledge after outpointing Jamaine Ortiz on Saturday night in New York City that it wasn’t his best performance.
The question is, why?
Everyone was looking for signs of age from the 34-year-old. Was that it? Was it the 10-month layoff? Was it the emotional toll of the war in his native Ukraine? Was it Ortiz, who opened eyes with a surprisingly strong performance?
Maybe it was a combination of all of the above.
Lomachenko looked out of sorts early in the fight as he tried to adjust to the speed and tactics of his former sparring partner, which undoubtedly led some to think during those trying moments that he has begun to slip.
However, he found a groove by the middle rounds and took firm control of the fight, looking a lot like the boxing wizard of the past. Maybe the age thing wasn’t a big factor after all.
The layoff? A lot of fighters go long periods of time without fighting these days. It doesn’t help, though. And one must assume his thoughts have been with his people, not on boxing given the war, although Oleksandr Usyk was able to put that aside and perform well against Anthony Joshua.
And Ortiz deserves credit. He didn’t deliver the life-changing performance for which he was hoping but he made a strong statement. He could compete with anyone.
Bottom line: No, Lomachenko didn’t dazzle anyone. At the same time he cleared all the hurdles listed above – plus a natural size disadvantage in the lightweight division – to win a unanimous decision, 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.
And, in addition to the victory, he realized another goal: His success set up a meeting with undisputed champion Devin Haney.
All in all, Lomachenko had a “good” night.
BAD
This item is filed under “bad” because Jake Paul baffles me.
Former MMA star Anderson Silva defeated genuine boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by a split decision in June of last year, which was surprising enough. Then, on Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona, Paul dropped and outpointed Silva in their eight-round fight.
Huh?
The only conclusion I can come up with: Paul (6-0, 4 KOs) can fight a little.
No, I’m not losing my mind. His skills remain rudimentary, which is expected for someone with only a handful of fights in his life. He clearly is learning, however. That’s a product of natural gifts and hard work.
Of course, Silva is 47 years old. He’s well preserved but certainly not what he used to be.
So how did he beat Chavez? That probably had a lot to do with Junior, who hasn’t always been properly dedicated to the sport. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he didn’t train a day for his meeting with Silva.
And no one should suggest that Paul will be able to take down an elite opponent. Remember, he has beaten a fellow YouTuber, a retired basketball player and former MMA stars. Thus, we can’t get carried away.
Paul called out MMA’s Nate Diaz and boxing star Canelo Alvarez after his victory. Diaz? Makes sense. Alvarez? Uh, no.
Let’s just give Paul some credit for his progress. He’s a good athlete with God-given punching power, which has helped him learn quickly. It makes me wonder what he might’ve accomplished had he started boxing earlier. And he’s obviously a tough guy. Otherwise he wouldn’t have the courage to step through the ropes.
Again, let’s keep this in perspective. Paul isn’t going to beat legitimate contender any time soon. That being said, he’s more than just a social media star and self-marketing whiz.
He wouldn’t be fooling himself or anyone else if he were to call himself a “fighter.”
WORSE
This item is filed under “worse” with Joseph Diaz Jr. in mind: The 2012 U.S. Olympian and former 130-pound titleholder didn’t know what hit him on Saturday night in San Diego.
William Zepeda (27-0, 23 KOs) overwhelmed Diaz (32-3-1, 15 KOs) from the opening bell with relentless, punishing pressure, never giving the loser a chance to get anything going in the one-sided lightweight fight.
In the process, Zepeda sent a message to the top 135-pounders: A new, legitimate threat is on the scene.
The Mexican’s motor was incredible. He threw a lightweight record 1,536 punches (connecting on 398), according to CompuBox. That’s a mind-boggling average of 128 punches thrown per round. Think about that.
And they weren’t pitty-pat shots; almost everything Zepeda throws is meant to hurt his opponents. The fact the naturally smaller Diaz was able to finish the fight on his feet is a testament to his resilience.
Can Zepeda beat the likes of Haney, Lomachenko, Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia? I have my doubts. Haney and Lomachenko are better boxers than Diaz. And Diaz was able to hurt Zepeda at least once, which might not bode well against punchers like Davis and Garcia.
I’ll ask this, though: Who’s going to want to tangle with him after his performance on Saturday? 128 punches per round. Seriously?
Diaz might be at a crossroads.
He’s 1-2-1 in his last four fights, including a draw with Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov, a victory over Javier Fortuna and back-to-back losses to Haney and now Zepeda. That looks bad but he’s only 29 and there’s no shame in those losses. Haney is a brilliant boxer and Zepeda is a force of nature.
Diaz isn’t finished.
RABBIT PUNCHES
The Haney-Lomachenko fight will probably happen next. Haney, a rising star, wants another big fight and Lomachenko’s name on his resume. And Lomachenko wants a chance to reclaim his position at the top of the division after losing to Teofimo Lopez in 2020. Can Lomachenko win? I believe him when he says he’ll be better prepared for Haney than he was for Ortiz but it would be a very difficult fight for him. Haney is one of the most skillful boxers in the world and 11 years younger than Lomachenko. Plus, did you see the size difference when they stood side by side in the ring after the fight Saturday? Lomachenko joked that Haney is a heavyweight, his way of pointing out one of his biggest disadvantages. I believe Lomachenko would have a shot. He will have shed any rust. And he has one obvious advantage over Haney: experience in big fights. I would be a fascinating matchup. … Undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor (22-0, 6 KOs) of Ireland was as impressive as ever Saturday in London, where she easily outpointed previously unbeaten, but limited Karen Elizabeth Carabajal (19-1, 2 KOs) of Argentina. Taylor is now 16-0 in world title fights. A more significant challenge could come next: Taylor will now pursue a rematch with Amanda Serrano, who lost a split decision to Taylor in April. Promoter Eddie Hearn wants to stage Taylor’s next fight in Dublin, where Taylor is an icon. She has never fought professionally in her home country. It’s about time.
Good, bad, worse: Saturday was a big night for Vasiliy Lomachenko, Jake Paul and William Zepeda.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Lightweight contender Vasiliy Lomachenko seemed to acknowledge after outpointing Jamaine Ortiz on Saturday night in New York City that it wasn’t his best performance.
The question is, why?
Everyone was looking for signs of age from the 34-year-old. Was that it? Was it the 10-month layoff? Was it the emotional toll of the war in his native Ukraine? Was it Ortiz, who opened eyes with a surprisingly strong performance?
Maybe it was a combination of all of the above.
Lomachenko looked out of sorts early in the fight as he tried to adjust to the speed and tactics of his former sparring partner, which undoubtedly led some to think during those trying moments that he has begun to slip.
However, he found a groove by the middle rounds and took firm control of the fight, looking a lot like the boxing wizard of the past. Maybe the age thing wasn’t a big factor after all.
The layoff? A lot of fighters go long periods of time without fighting these days. It doesn’t help, though. And one must assume his thoughts have been with his people, not on boxing given the war, although Oleksandr Usyk was able to put that aside and perform well against Anthony Joshua.
And Ortiz deserves credit. He didn’t deliver the life-changing performance for which he was hoping but he made a strong statement. He could compete with anyone.
Bottom line: No, Lomachenko didn’t dazzle anyone. At the same time he cleared all the hurdles listed above – plus a natural size disadvantage in the lightweight division – to win a unanimous decision, 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.
And, in addition to the victory, he realized another goal: His success set up a meeting with undisputed champion Devin Haney.
All in all, Lomachenko had a “good” night.
BAD
This item is filed under “bad” because Jake Paul baffles me.
Former MMA star Anderson Silva defeated genuine boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by a split decision in June of last year, which was surprising enough. Then, on Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona, Paul dropped and outpointed Silva in their eight-round fight.
Huh?
The only conclusion I can come up with: Paul (6-0, 4 KOs) can fight a little.
No, I’m not losing my mind. His skills remain rudimentary, which is expected for someone with only a handful of fights in his life. He clearly is learning, however. That’s a product of natural gifts and hard work.
Of course, Silva is 47 years old. He’s well preserved but certainly not what he used to be.
So how did he beat Chavez? That probably had a lot to do with Junior, who hasn’t always been properly dedicated to the sport. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he didn’t train a day for his meeting with Silva.
And no one should suggest that Paul will be able to take down an elite opponent. Remember, he has beaten a fellow YouTuber, a retired basketball player and former MMA stars. Thus, we can’t get carried away.
Paul called out MMA’s Nate Diaz and boxing star Canelo Alvarez after his victory. Diaz? Makes sense. Alvarez? Uh, no.
Let’s just give Paul some credit for his progress. He’s a good athlete with God-given punching power, which has helped him learn quickly. It makes me wonder what he might’ve accomplished had he started boxing earlier. And he’s obviously a tough guy. Otherwise he wouldn’t have the courage to step through the ropes.
Again, let’s keep this in perspective. Paul isn’t going to beat legitimate contender any time soon. That being said, he’s more than just a social media star and self-marketing whiz.
He wouldn’t be fooling himself or anyone else if he were to call himself a “fighter.”
WORSE
This item is filed under “worse” with Joseph Diaz Jr. in mind: The 2012 U.S. Olympian and former 130-pound titleholder didn’t know what hit him on Saturday night in San Diego.
William Zepeda (27-0, 23 KOs) overwhelmed Diaz (32-3-1, 15 KOs) from the opening bell with relentless, punishing pressure, never giving the loser a chance to get anything going in the one-sided lightweight fight.
In the process, Zepeda sent a message to the top 135-pounders: A new, legitimate threat is on the scene.
The Mexican’s motor was incredible. He threw a lightweight record 1,536 punches (connecting on 398), according to CompuBox. That’s a mind-boggling average of 128 punches thrown per round. Think about that.
And they weren’t pitty-pat shots; almost everything Zepeda throws is meant to hurt his opponents. The fact the naturally smaller Diaz was able to finish the fight on his feet is a testament to his resilience.
Can Zepeda beat the likes of Haney, Lomachenko, Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia? I have my doubts. Haney and Lomachenko are better boxers than Diaz. And Diaz was able to hurt Zepeda at least once, which might not bode well against punchers like Davis and Garcia.
I’ll ask this, though: Who’s going to want to tangle with him after his performance on Saturday? 128 punches per round. Seriously?
Diaz might be at a crossroads.
He’s 1-2-1 in his last four fights, including a draw with Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov, a victory over Javier Fortuna and back-to-back losses to Haney and now Zepeda. That looks bad but he’s only 29 and there’s no shame in those losses. Haney is a brilliant boxer and Zepeda is a force of nature.
Diaz isn’t finished.
RABBIT PUNCHES
The Haney-Lomachenko fight will probably happen next. Haney, a rising star, wants another big fight and Lomachenko’s name on his resume. And Lomachenko wants a chance to reclaim his position at the top of the division after losing to Teofimo Lopez in 2020. Can Lomachenko win? I believe him when he says he’ll be better prepared for Haney than he was for Ortiz but it would be a very difficult fight for him. Haney is one of the most skillful boxers in the world and 11 years younger than Lomachenko. Plus, did you see the size difference when they stood side by side in the ring after the fight Saturday? Lomachenko joked that Haney is a heavyweight, his way of pointing out one of his biggest disadvantages. I believe Lomachenko would have a shot. He will have shed any rust. And he has one obvious advantage over Haney: experience in big fights. I would be a fascinating matchup. … Undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor (22-0, 6 KOs) of Ireland was as impressive as ever Saturday in London, where she easily outpointed previously unbeaten, but limited Karen Elizabeth Carabajal (19-1, 2 KOs) of Argentina. Taylor is now 16-0 in world title fights. A more significant challenge could come next: Taylor will now pursue a rematch with Amanda Serrano, who lost a split decision to Taylor in April. Promoter Eddie Hearn wants to stage Taylor’s next fight in Dublin, where Taylor is an icon. She has never fought professionally in her home country. It’s about time.
Vasiliy Lomachenko outpointed “tough” Jamaine Ortiz on Saturday to set up a meeting with undisputed lightweight champ Devin Haney.
Vasiliy Lomachenko gave his besieged Ukrainian countrymen something to celebrate.
The 34-year-old lightweight contender, who had been out of the ring for 10 months because his country is at war with Russia, defeated Jamaine Ortiz by a unanimous decision in a 12-round bout Saturday at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The victory sets up a showdown with undisputed champion Devin Haney, although no deal is in place.
Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) didn’t get off to a strong start, which might be attributed to both his layoff and Ortiz’s ability.
Ortiz gave a surprisingly strong performance, flicking a quick, accurate jab, landed his share of power shots and using fleet movement to frustrate Lomachenko in the first half of a competitive fight.
However, Lomachenko, backed by a sympathetic crowd that repeatedly changed “Loma! Loma! Loma!”, began to take charge in the middle rounds. He pushed the action, connecting on cleaner, harder punches than his opponent and dominating the championship rounds to claim a hard-fought victory.
The official scores were 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113. Boxing Junkie also scored it 115-113 for Lomachenko, seven rounds to five.
Lomachenko expressed respect afterward for Ortiz, with whom he sparred before his previous fight.
“I told you before: Jamaine Ortiz is a tough fighter,” he said. “He’s a good fighter, he understands boxing.”
So does Lomachenko, the former pound-for-pound king who was knocked from his perch and lost his 135-pound titles to Teofimo Lopez in 2020. He has now won three consecutive fights, which puts him squarely in the title picture.
He was asked afterward what motivated him down the stretch Saturday.
“You know what motivated me, of course; four belts, four belts,” he said.
That was a reference to Haney, who joined his rival in the ring as he was being interviewed. Lomachenko reiterated that he’s prepared to take on what would be a significant challenge, which suited the young champion just fine.
“That’s what I like to hear,” he said. “I took the risk, I went to Australia twice, and everything [former champion] George Kambosos mandated I signed up for. We’ll see when we go to negotiate.”
Lomachenko probably will be an underdog if he faces Haney, particularly because some might argue that he wasn’t as dominating against Ortiz as we’ve come to expect.
Even Lomachenko suggested he wasn’t at his best because of the layoff, but he also implied that wouldn’t be the case against Haney.
“I need more time for preparation,” he said. “I’ll be ready.”
Vasiliy Lomachenko outpointed “tough” Jamaine Ortiz on Saturday to set up a meeting with undisputed lightweight champ Devin Haney.
Vasiliy Lomachenko gave his besieged Ukrainian countrymen something to celebrate.
The 34-year-old lightweight contender, who had been out of the ring for 10 months because his country is at war with Russia, defeated Jamaine Ortiz by a unanimous decision in a 12-round bout Saturday at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The victory sets up a showdown with undisputed champion Devin Haney, although no deal is in place.
Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) didn’t get off to a strong start, which might be attributed to both his layoff and Ortiz’s ability.
Ortiz gave a surprisingly strong performance, flicking a quick, accurate jab, landed his share of power shots and using fleet movement to frustrate Lomachenko in the first half of a competitive fight.
However, Lomachenko, backed by a sympathetic crowd that repeatedly changed “Loma! Loma! Loma!”, began to take charge in the middle rounds. He pushed the action, connecting on cleaner, harder punches than his opponent and dominating the championship rounds to claim a hard-fought victory.
The official scores were 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113. Boxing Junkie also scored it 115-113 for Lomachenko, seven rounds to five.
Lomachenko expressed respect afterward for Ortiz, with whom he sparred before his previous fight.
“I told you before: Jamaine Ortiz is a tough fighter,” he said. “He’s a good fighter, he understands boxing.”
So does Lomachenko, the former pound-for-pound king who was knocked from his perch and lost his 135-pound titles to Teofimo Lopez in 2020. He has now won three consecutive fights, which puts him squarely in the title picture.
He was asked afterward what motivated him down the stretch Saturday.
“You know what motivated me, of course; four belts, four belts,” he said.
That was a reference to Haney, who joined his rival in the ring as he was being interviewed. Lomachenko reiterated that he’s prepared to take on what would be a significant challenge, which suited the young champion just fine.
“That’s what I like to hear,” he said. “I took the risk, I went to Australia twice, and everything [former champion] George Kambosos mandated I signed up for. We’ll see when we go to negotiate.”
Lomachenko probably will be an underdog if he faces Haney, particularly because some might argue that he wasn’t as dominating against Ortiz as we’ve come to expect.
Even Lomachenko suggested he wasn’t at his best because of the layoff, but he also implied that wouldn’t be the case against Haney.
“I need more time for preparation,” he said. “I’ll be ready.”
